Roast grid having a flexible configuration

ABSTRACT

A roast grid having a flexible configuration includes a first frame rod and a second frame rod opposing each other, and a plurality of bracing bars vertical to the two frame rods. The first frame rod is movably coupled on a resting rod on an opening of a broiler, and has a plurality of wedge portions on one side wall to hold the bracing bars. The second frame rod includes an upper clip member and a lower clip member that are hinged together. The upper and lower clip members have facing sides that have indented clip portions to clip the bracing bars. One end of the clip members is fastened through a fastening element. Thus the bracing members can be disassembled and removed for cleaning. The laying density of the bracing bars can be adjusted to mate cooking utensils.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a roast grid used on broilers andparticularly to a roast grid that can be adjusted flexibly in varyingdensities to mate cooking utensils

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional roast grid 1 of a broiler 2generally is mounted onto two opposing resting edges 4 of an opening 3on the broiler top. The roast grid 1 has a plurality of longitudinalmetal bars 5 soldering on two transverse resting rods 6 that arepositioned on a front side and a rear side to become a rectangular grid.When in use, the roast grid 1 is mounted onto the resting edges 4. Asthe metal bars 5 are fixedly soldered on the two transverse resting rods6, and sauces are dispensed on the roasted meats such as port, chicken,duck or other food stuffs during roasting. The sauces inevitably willdrip onto the roast grid 1. The heat of roasting bakes the sauces tobecome sticky black coke attached to the roast grid 1. To do clearing,the entire roast grid 1 has to be removed and cleaned. As the roast grid1 is heavy and bulky, and the metal bars 5 and the resting rods 6 arefixedly soldered in a cross manner, cleaning is difficult, especially onthe intersecting spots. Moreover, soldering requires skillfultechnicians. Overdoing the soldering will create too much oxidation. Notsufficient soldering will result in breaking away of the metal bars 5from the resting rods 6. Moreover, the metal bars 5 are soldered andlaid in a fixed density. It cannot accommodate other cooking utensils(such as frying pans). To hold a pot on the roast grid 1 to stew soup,the pot has to be rested on the top of the metal bars 5 straddling theopening 3 of the broiler. As the pitch density of the metal bars 5 aimsto do roasting, it usually is formed in a denser fashion to preventfoodstuffs from dropping. To hold the pot thereon for stewing soup, theflame is blocked from reaching the pot bottom due to the denser metalbars 5, hence heating efficiency is lower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of thepresent invention is to provide a roast grid that can be arrangedflexibly in varying densities. It includes a first frame rod and asecond frame rod that oppose each other, and a plurality of bracing barsvertical to the two frame rods. The first frame rod is movably coupledon a resting rod on an opening of a broiler. The first frame rod has aplurality of wedge portions on one side wall to be latched by thebracing bars. The second frame rod includes a upper clip member and alower clip member that are hinged together. The upper and lower clipmembers have indented coupling portions on facing sides to clip thebracing bars, and have a distal end fastened by a fastening element.Thus the bracing bars can be removed for cleaning and arranged invarying densities to mate the cooking utensils.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional roast grid and a broiler.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional roast grid and a broilerin a coupled condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of an embodiment of the roast grid of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary enlarged view according to FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the roast grid of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the second frame rod ofthe invention in a moving condition.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention showing thebracing bars in a cleaning condition.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in a usecondition.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in anotheruse condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please referring to FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the roast grid having a flexibleconfiguration according to the invention includes a first frame rod 10and a second frame rod 20, and a plurality of bracing bars 30 coupled onthe first and second frame rods 10 and 20 in a vertical manner.

The first frame rod 10 has a rectangular end surface with a trough 12formed thereon axially. The trough 12 has an opening inclined towards aside wall to be movably coupled on a resting rod 42 on an opening 41 ofthe top of a broiler 40. The first frame rod 10 further has a pluralityof wedge portions 11 on one side wall that are round cavities to beinserted by one end of the round bracing bars 30. The second frame rod20 also has a rectangular end surface and includes a upper clip member21 and a lower clip member 22 that have one end hinged together, andanother end fastened together through a fastening element 25 (such as abolt). The upper and lower clip members 21 and 22 have facing sides thathave respectively a plurality of indented coupling portions 23 opposingeach other. The coupling portions 23 are semicircular holes to clipother end of the bracing bars 30. The lower clip member 22 has a distalend with a screw hole 24 formed thereon to be fastened by the fasteningelement 25 (also referring to FIGS. 5 and 6). The fastening element 25runs through an elastic element 26 (such as a spring) which isextensible axially. The fastening element 25 further has a jutting andextensible latch portion 27 on a upper periphery to be coupled with anaperture 28 formed on another distal end of the upper clip member 21 sothat after the fastening element 25 is fastened, the latch portion islatched on the top wall of the aperture 28 to latch the upper clipmember 21 on the upper side of the lower clip member 22 to jointly clipthe bracing bars 30.

For assembly, the first fame rod 10 is coupled on the resting rod 42 onthe upper side of the opening 41 of the broiler 40 through the trough12, and turned for a selected angle to be rested on the resting rod 42.Then the bracing bars 30 are inserted individually into the wedgeportions 11 of the first frame rod 10 through one end thereof. Straddlethe second frame rod 20 on a resting edge 43 below the opening 41, andraise the upper clip member 21 to place other ends of the bracing bars30 on the coupling portions 23 of the lower clip member 22. Lower theupper clip member 21 onto the lower clip member 22 to clip the bracingbars 30. Insert the fastening element 25 into the aperture 28 to clipthe upper clip member 21 to the lower clip member 22. The latch member27 can be latched on the top surface of the upper clip member 21 to forman anchoring condition to clip the bracing bars 30 securely.

To clean the roast grid, lift the upper clip member 21. The latchportion 27 is retracted under pressure. Then the bracing bars 30 can beremoved individually. Submerge the bracing bars 30 in a detergentsolution as shown in FIG. 7 for a selected time. Then the coke greaseattached to the bracing bars 30 can be brushed away.

It is to be noted that the density of the bracing bars 30 can beadjusted as desired. For instance, a number of the bracing bars 30 inthe middle portion of the opening 41 (i.e. above the flame) can beremoved to allow a frying pan to be placed thereon as shown in FIG. 8,or the bracing bars 30 in the middle portion can be arranged in a lessdensely manner to hold a pot as shown in FIG. 9.

In short, compared with the conventional roast grid shown in FIGS. 1 and2, the roast grid 1 of the invention can be disassembled and cleanedeasily. The density of the bracing bars 30 can be adjusted to mate thecooking utensils to be used. Assembly and installation is easy. Theproblem of defective soldering is eliminated. It offers a greatimprovement over the conventional techniques.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth forthe purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments ofthe invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A roast grid having a flexible configuration to be rested on anopening of a broiler, comprising: a first frame rod and a second framerod corresponding to each other to couple with a plurality of bracingbars on a front end and a rear end; at least one of the frame rodshaving a upper clip member and a lower clip member that correspond toeach other and have one end hinged together, the upper clip member andthe lower clip member having facing sides which have respectively aplurality of indented coupling portions, the first frame rod havingother end fastened together through a fastening element.
 2. The roastgrid of claim 1, wherein the first frame rod and the second frame rodhave one end surface formed in a rectangle, the first frame rod having aplurality of wedge portions formed on one side wall.
 3. The roast gridof claim 2, wherein the wedge portions are circular cavities, thebracing bars are round bars that have one end inserting into the wedgeportions.
 4. The roast grid of claim 1, wherein the fastening element isa bolt which runs through an elastic element which is extensible axiallyand has a latch portion jutting through a upper periphery thereof. 5.The roast grid of claim 4, wherein the elastic element is a spring. 6.The roast grid of claim 1, wherein the first frame rod has a trough inthe center that has an opening inclined towards a side wall, the openingof the trough corresponding to a resting rod on the opening of thebroiler to be coupled with the resting rod by turning.